Food product containing gel capsules or tablets

Abstract

The present invention concerns a food or pet food product containing up to 50% gel capsules or tablets based on alginate, pectate or a mixture of both and comprising oil, vitamins, amino-acids, proteins, minerals, colorants, flavors and/or specifically targeted functional ingredients such as probiotic microorganisms, bioactive molecules, said food product being taken in the group consisting of chilled, dried retorted and UHT-products.

1 . A food product comprising at least one of a gel capsule and a tablet wherein said gel capsule and said tablet consists of at least one of an alginate, a pectate, vitamins, amino-acids, proteins, minerals, colorants, flavors, probiotic micro-organisms, and bioactive molecules.  
     
     
         2 . A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said food product comprises from about 50% to about 99% of a retorted food product and from about 1% to about 50% of at least one of said gel capsule and said tablet.  
     
     
         3 . A food product according to  claim 2  wherein said retorted product consists of at least one of meat, a meat by-product, fish, a fish by-product, salmon, sardines, tuna, chicken, rabbit, cattle, sheep, and offal.  
     
     
         4 . A food product according to  claim 2  wherein said retorted food product comprises at least about 50% meat and 50% jelly.  
     
     
         5 . A food product according to  claim 2  wherein said retorted pet food product comprises at least about 50% fish and about 50% jelly.  
     
     
         6 . A food product according to  claim 2  wherein said retorted food product comprises from about 38% to about 45% meat, about 50% jelly, and from about 5% to about 12% gel capsules or tablets.  
     
     
         7 . A food product according to  claim 2  wherein said retorted food product comprises from about 38% to about 45% fish, about 50% jelly, and from about 5% to about 12% gel capsules or tablets.  
     
     
         8 . A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said gel capsule is a hydrocollid capsule.  
     
     
         9 . A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said gel capsule is encapsulated.  
     
     
         10 . food product according to  claim 9  wherein said encapsulation is gel entrapment.  
     
     
         11 . A food product according to  claim 9  wherein said gel capsule is encapsulated with a coating.  
     
     
         12 . A food product according to  claim 4  wherein said gel capsule is encapsulate with two coatings.  
     
     
         13 . A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said gel capsule comprises from about 0% to about 50% oil, from 0% to about 15% calcium salt, and from 0% to about 3% vitamin-mineral premix on a wet basis.  
     
     
         14 . A food product according to  claim 13  wherein said calcium salt consists of one of tricalcium phosphate, calcium chloride and calcium sulphate.  
     
     
         15 . A food product according to  claim 13  wherein said oil consist of one of a vegetable oil, an animal oil, a palm oil, a soya oil, a sunflower oil, pork tallow, and beef tallow.  
     
     
         16 . A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said food product is a pet food product.  
     
     
         17 . A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said food product is a human food product.  
     
     
         18 . A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said food product consists of a chilled product and a gel capsule.  
     
     
         19 . A food product according to  claim 18  wherein said chilled product consists of at least a yogurt, a mousse, and a créme dessert.  
     
     
         20 . A food product according to  claim 18  wherein said food product consists of upto 50% gel capsules.  
     
     
         21 . A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said gel capsule protect nutrients from the outside environment.  
     
     
         22 . A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said gel capsule has a diameter of about 20 mm.  
     
     
         23 . A food product according to  claim 1  wherein said gel capsule has a diameter from about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm.  
     
     
         24 . A method of producing a food product comprising: 
 mixing an aqueous solution of alginate, pectate, oil blend, vitamins, minerals, colorants, and flavors in the presence of sequestrant agents to form a stable liquid emulsion;    dropping said stable liquid emulsion into a calcium chloride solution; and    forming an alginate gel capsule.    
     
     
         25 . A method of producing a food product according to  claim 24  further comprises the step of immersing said gel capsule in a solution consisting of at least one of calcium chloride, alginate, and pectate.  
     
     
         26 . A method of producing a food product comprising: 
 mixing an aqueous solution of alginate, pectate, oil blend, vitamins, minerals, colorants and flavors in the presence of sequestrant agents to form a stable liquid emulsion;    adding at least one of a frozen food ingredient and a dry powder food ingredient;    grinding said liquid emulsion in a calcium sulphate solution utilizing an emulsifier to form a second emulsion;    injecting said second emulsion into a tray or mold for gelation; and    cutting gel capsules.    
     
     
         27 . A method of producing a food product according to  claim 26  further comprises the step of immersing said gel capsule in a solution consisting of at least one of calcium chloride, alginate, and pectate.